Immediately behind the seven axes on which the figure wheels revolve,
are seven other axes; on which are placed, first, the wheels already
described as driven by the figure wheels, and which bear upon them the
wedge which withdraws the bolt immediately over these latter wheels, and
on the same axis is placed the adding bolt. From the bottom of this bolt
there projects downwards the pin, which acts upon the unbolting wedge by
which the bolt is withdrawn: from the upper surface of the bolt proceeds
a tooth, which, when the bolt is shot, enters between the teeth of the
adding wheel, which turns on the same axis, and is placed immediately
above the bolt: its teeth, on which the bolt acts, are like the teeth of
a crown wheel, and are presented downwards. The bolt is fixed upon this
axis, and turns with it; but the adding wheel above the bolt, and the
unbolting wheel below it, both turn upon the axis, and independently of
it. When the axis is made to revolve by the moving power, the bolt
revolves with it; and so long as the tooth of the bolt remains inserted
between those of the adding wheel, the latter is likewise moved; but
when the lower pin of the bolt encounters the unbolting wedge on the
lower wheel, the tooth of the bolt is withdrawn, and the motion of the
adding wheel is stopped. This adding wheel is furnished with spur teeth,
besides the crown teeth just mentioned; and these spur teeth are engaged
with those of that unbolting wheel which is in connexion with the
adjacent figure wheel to which the addition is to be made. By such an
arrangement it is evident that the revolution of the bolt will
necessarily add to the adjacent figure wheel the requisite number.
It will be perceived, that upon the same axis are placed an unbolting
wheel, a bolt, and an adding wheel, one above the other, for every
figure wheel; and as there are eighteen figure wheels there will be
eighteen tiers; each tier formed of an unbolting wheel, a bolt, and an
adding wheel, placed one above the other; the wheels on this axis all
revolving independent of the axis, but the bolts being all fixed upon
it. The same observations, of course, will apply to each of the seven
axes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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